Articles by David K. Moseder

john_prinephoto by Danny Clinch- low res

Remembering John Prine: A Brooklyn Perspective

April 19, 2020 by David K. Moseder

The late, great John Prine, who played two memorable concerts at the Kings Theatre in 2016 and 2019, is fondly remembered as an inspiration by... read article

Mariela Flor Olivo photo by Mia Isabella Photography /courtesy of the Artist

Brooklyn Is Deep in the Heart of Mariela Flor Olivo

April 17, 2020 by David K. Moseder

Texas native Mariela Flor Olivo tells Brooklyn Roads that the music of singer-songwriters such as James Taylor and Brooklyn’s own Carole King were staples in... read article

Brooklyn Music Is Alive and Well!

April 1, 2020 by David K. Moseder

When it comes delivering music to their fans, Brooklyn artists and venues don’t fool around. One after another they’re taking to social media to stage... read article

Mia Berrin of Pom Pom Squad / photo by Michael Todaro

Mia Berrin photo by Michael Todaro

Pom Pom Squad Brings the ’90s Sound Up to Date

March 23, 2020 by David K. Moseder

Pom Pom Squad’s new release, Ow, builds on the post-grunge, “quiet grrl” punk sound the Brooklyn band established with their first EP, Hate it Here.... read article

José James Takes To The Streets photo © by Janette Beckman / courtesy of Girlie Action Media

Rainbow Blonde Records-A New Beginning for José James

March 2, 2020 by David K. Moseder

Brooklyn jazz artist José James has always admired artists who control their own music, such as Ray Charles and Jay-Z. So when he got the... read article

Eight Brooklyn Artists Who Lit Up Our Radar In 2019

December 21, 2019 by David K. Moseder

Brooklyn Roads interviewed a variety of multi-talented artists this year. They come from diverse backgrounds and play their own unique brand of music. All of them... read article

Lora-Faye Åshuvud / photo by Kyra Kverno

In The Moment at The Sultan Room photo by Kyra Kverno

Arthur Moon Shines at Bushwick’s Sultan Room

December 16, 2019 by David K. Moseder

On December 3, 2019, Brooklyn Roads visited Bushwick’s newest music venues, The Sultan Room, to catch one of the most intriguing artists our borough has... read article

Megan Palmer photo by Stacie Huckeba

Megan Palmer and the Healing Power of Music

November 14, 2019 by David K. Moseder

Megan Palmer, one of the standout performers at the 2019 Brooklyn Americana Music Festival, grew up with a musical grandfather who played jazz piano and... read article

Pauline Jean photo by Joey Rosado

Pauline Jean: Music From a Strongly Rooted Core

October 9, 2019 by David K. Moseder

Pauline Jean had been working as a paralegal in New York City for several years when she reached a verdict about herself: guilty of not... read article

The Maybelles_BKAMF19_Jalopy Opening Night_Photo by Quincie Hydock

The Maybelles On Opening Night photo by Quincie Hydock

Fifth Brooklyn Americana Fest: One Crowd-Pleaser After Another

September 29, 2019 by David K. Moseder

The fifth annual Brooklyn Americana Music Festival presented 50 free shows on nine stages from Dumbo to Red Hook on Thursday through Sunday, Sept. 19... read article

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Artists on our Radar

Brayden Baird Is Asking the Big Questions – And Making You Laugh Through the Pain

Brayden Baird -photo courtesy of Mix-Tape Media

After decades of producing and releasing music under various aliases, Brooklyn’s own Brayden Baird is stepping into the spotlight with his most raw and refined work yet. Backed by the Once in a Lifetime Band, Baird’s upcoming LP Lord, why do you do these things to me? is a heartfelt and even satirical exploration of grief, identity, and faith that refuses to follow conventional sounds before its time. Across the ten-track album, Baird weaves catchy humor with emotional vulnerability, building a soundscape that feels intimate and extravagant all at once. His lyrics are clever without being cynical and full of sincerity; this delicate balance places him alongside emerging alt-folk figures like Cameron Winter and Nate Amos. The album kicks off with its title track, a sharp, stomping folk-rock number that wrestles with clever anecdotes and the chaos of unanswered prayers. From there, the songs unravel like chapters in a personal essay. The blending of stories of loss, family, addiction, and self-discovery comes about in just about every track. “Light in the Tunnel” turns a daily subway ride into an anthem of personal awakening. At the same time, “When Will the Sun Rise Again?” delivers a haunting, piano-led meditation on mourning and artistic authenticity. Other tracks showcase Baird’s gift for finding light in unlikely places. “Blue for the Body” is a lively reflection on coping mechanisms based on Gatorade flavors, which Baird says “is intended as a fun jam that people can sing and play along to and make light of the weight of addictions.”. “Pelican” draws on childhood lore amid his father’s mythical stories that untangle complex family bonds. With the accompanying music video for this track, Baird draws on whimsical elements of his father’s storytelling, saying, “In life, it is so easy to hate somebody based on the things they’ve done and so hard to forgive. After all, we are just working with the things we’ve got.” One of the album’s most affecting moments, which comes halfway through “It Kills Me to See You Sick,” channels rage and helplessness into a hushed piano ballad that’s both deeply personal and widely relatable, with Baird recounting the pain and sadness behind the song’s creation as his mom was diagnosed with Cancer as other family members were simultaneously hospitalized. On the last track of the album, “When You Were Castrated,” Baird confronts mortality and estrangement with brutal honesty about his father’s passing, delivering a final note that is at once heartbreaking and cathartic. Baird’s musical world is one of contradictions: funny and tragic, sarcastic and sincere, spiritual and grounded. With Lord, why do you do these things to me?* he’s created an album that doesn’t just tell stories but invites listeners to sit with them, question them, and sing along anyway. Catch Brayden Baird and the Once in a Lifetime Band at their album release show at The Rabbit Hole in Brooklyn on June 26 and stream the whole record on June 20.

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